Hey That's Not Coffee!

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel

Today I forgot how to paint. It was a disaster. Luckily I'm ahead with my paintings, so I still had something to post.

Lately I've actually been way ahead with my paintings, and I'm finding a pretty huge benefit to this (in addition them being dry and ready to ship): by the time I post a painting, I am far less emotionally involved. If I decide - well, this one really just isn't up to par, it doesn't slay me like it would if I made the same judgement call right after I painted it. And you end up seeing only the work I am most proud of.

And Breakfast

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

This is another object I borrowed from my friend Patti - the ampersand. It had a lot of neat reflections in it, but also reflected a lot of funny light everywhere. I used my artistic license and left some of it out. My guess is you can't tell?

Brightens Up the Room

Click Here to Bid - 10x10in. - oil on panel

Ok, this is the last rose painting for now. Also featuring a new metal pitcher I got on ebay. Very simple but I think it adds a lot.

Tranquil Blue

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x8in. - oil on panel

I switched to fixed prices a while back, but have decided to try auctions again. I'm also going to try shorter auctions, after bidding on some things myself (on Ebay - stuff to paint) and losing interest after a few days, haha!

This 3-day auction starts at $125.

Jail Break

 

Click Here to Purchase - $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

As spring arrives, we are getting more interesting and good looking produce at the grocery store here in Montana. Which makes this gal very happy! : )

Holding it Together, Again

 

Click Here to Purchase - $800 - 18x18in - oil on panel

Here is the product of a recent experiment where I took a small painting I liked > and made it larger ^. Since I had all the props, I set it up again and took pictures. Then I painted from a combination of photos and the original painting. In the future, if I can, I will work from life (as I normally do).

I made two small changes to the composition - I shortened the white vase so it wasn't the same height as the green cup. I don't know if that made a difference, but there it is. I also moved the little, white plate closer to the green cup. In addition I increased my painting arsenal - in addition to brushes I used a squeegee and palette knife.

Drinking Buddies

 

Click Here to Buy for $200 - 6x6in. - oil on panel

I got this little shot "glass" from a friend on a painting/camping trip in the Sierras a few years ago. Every night after a day of painting we would share cocktails and stories. Best drinking buddies ever!

First, Coffee

 

Click Here to Buy for $200 - 6x8in. - oil on panel

My husband needs his coffee first thing, before he can function as a human being. I know a lot of other people like that too. I love coffee, but it does not love me. So if you're a tea drinker like me, the title is "First, Tea"!

Holding it Together

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil on panel - starts at $100

Of all my still life subjects, cups are the most cooperative. They don't have the big egos like apples do, for example. They don't mind if they're just a supporting character in a painting.

The Green Square

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - Oil. - "The Green Square"

I have suddenly gotten the bug to paint still life again. It's been 7 months. I guess I needed it.

Eat the Apple

 

Click Here to Bid (starts at $1) - 10x10in. - oil - "Eat the Apple"

This is the second experiment from my "Just Try Sh*t: Composition" ArtByte (online tutorial). To review: I copied a painting with a composition I liked, then set up and painted my own composition using what I had learned. This was my second try, and I'm quite happy with it. I was trying for a more unusual composition than what I normally do, and a more sketchy style.

A Run on the Bowl

 

Click Here to Bid - 6x6in. - oil - "A Run on the Bowl"

Couldn't they see the bowl was too small? I wanted to say something but I figured it was their lesson to learn.

Time for a Swim

 

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - oil - starts at $100)

Many thanks to my buddy Paul for the title idea. : )

On a side note - after my recent palette post I got a few comments/questions about gray palettes, and why I don't use one. It is my opinion that the color of one's palette (and most other things in art) are purely a matter of preference. I have used a white palette for many years and am used to it. I have tried gray before (after someone assured me it would help in mixing values) but since I wasn't used to it, I had an extremely hard time adjusting. I'm sure if I had kept on using it, I could have managed, but honestly I happen to like comparing my values to white - it helps especially with lighter values. It seems to me no matter what you use it will help with something, and not help with other things. Just like in life - there is no right or wrong - just consequences.

The Empty Glass

 

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - OIL - starts at $100)

I should really ask you guys for title ideas more often! I got A LOT of great ones for the painting I posted yesterday->. It was actually really hard to pick, but I finally settled on, "If the Cup Fits." I got this idea from Laurie Mansur on my Instagram page. Thank you so much, Laurie!

Happy 4th of July, y'all!

Time to Eat, Junior

 

Click Here to BUY (6x12in. - OIL - $300 - click image to enlarge)

This wide format never shows up well here, so make sure you click the image to see it bigger. I've had this pink pig for a WHILE - a student gave it to me years ago. And I have so wanted it to make it's way into a painting, but it was just a little too big for 6x6. So today is the debut for Mrs. Pink Pig, mother to Junior here, who has been playing with his shiny ball instead of eating his lunch.

Assembling Apples

 

Click Here to BUY (12x12in. - OIL - $600)

I've gotten a huge response from you guys that you DO want a review of art apps from me. : ) So I'm taking it seriously and putting work into it. Which means it'll take me a little longer (hopefully just a few more days). 

Meanwhile, here's an even bigger painting! This one is a whopping 12x12inches!! I've had this coffeepot for years and finally felt like I could fit it in to a painting. Woo!

While the Monster Sleeps

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. OIL - starts at $100)

These peaches are sneaking past the monster's bowl (and knife) while he sleeps. Are they escaping? Will they make it?

Cherry Jubilee

Click Here to Bid (6x6in. - starts at $100)

The title of this is "Cherry Jubilee," not to be confused with cherrIES jubilee, the dessert. A jubilee is a special celebration of an event - an anniversary. The cherries are celebrating the time they won the cherry bowl. You should'a seen it. They killed.

Posers

Click Here to Bid (6x8in. - starts at $100)

And now a small break from sunflowers. Even though the online classes I've taken so far have been about the landscape, I find that most of the lessons can be applied to still life as well. I did this one right after I heard John Burton talk about rhythm. I'm definitely learning, but I'm also getting inspired!

The Fancy Family

Click Here to Bid (6x8in. - starts at $100)

I'll be back home tomorrow. Meanwhile here is a still life I painted before I left. I've been going through my stuff lately with an eye towards culling, which has prompted me to paint things I have long neglected.